Support for AddOn Development for Blizzard's Classic

[mtp1032]

This comment appeared in another forum:

Originally Posted by Ammako Anyone looking forward to the inevitable influx of people looking for addon help because they can't get old addon releases from 2005 working on Classic?

Which raises the question of whether this site will open its forums to developers of addons for Blizzard's Classic version of Vanilla, and if so, when?

Cheers,

[Seerah]

(moved to appropriate forum)

We still have no idea whether addons will even be allowed on WoW Classic, or what API they will be using for the UI. If addons for Classic require a different API, or will otherwise not work with the most recent expansion/patch, then there will be a separate section or designation for them.

Guesses are that the UI will be the same API as the current version of the game, as that would be easier to maintain and would keep the restrictions put in place to the client to combat automation, etc.

Any addons designed for private servers will still not be allowed on this site, as we are an Official Fan Site and follow Blizzard's rules.

As for when, who knows? Blizzard has no timetable yet for Classic.

[mtp1032]

Originally Posted by Seerah (moved to appropriate forum) Guesses are that the UI will be the same API as the current version of the game, as that would be easier to maintain and would keep the restrictions put in place to the client to combat automation, etc.

That's sort of what I guessed (I'm a retired s/w developer - kernel code, though), but didn't want to weigh my question in that direction.

...

Originally Posted by Seerah As for when, who knows? Blizzard has no timetable yet for Classic.

Agreed. One final question, if you don't mind: my understanding is that Blizz still uses LUA 5.1, even tho' the latest version of LUA is 5.3. Is my understanding correct?

Thanks for the quick response.

Cheers,

[Tim]

Addons were allowed in Vanilla so Classic will be no different. However, things will be updated and some of the restrictions that were put on functions back then and up until now will more than likely continue to be enforced. What does that mean? It means although stuff like addon automation was allowed for majority of Vanilla it will not exist in this version of Classic.

Private server stuff like Seerah said will not be allowed on here ever as it's against Blizzards ToS. People are going to have to accept that fact and accept the fact that addons that currently work for private servers are not going to work for this new Classic version. Blizzard would make no sense to basically revert back to an older styled code base. This version of Classic WoW of course is not going to resemble that actual Vanilla WoW experience but they're going to try their best with all the new tech to do so. Of course purists are still probably going to dab in the private server communities but, who knows, maybe they'll be satisfied with Blizzard's new version.

This new Classic WoW brings up lots of questions in regards to Vanilla.
- Will they revert the world and character models back to Vanilla style?
- Same question as above but in regards to spell animations
- Are they going to revert back to the old talent system and include it's limitations? (ie: 1 spec, 50g max respec cost)
- If they go back to the old talent system will they also reintroduce spells and their ranking system? (ie: healers having like 5 different ranks of 1 heal due to efficiency, etc)
- Will they go back to having a few dungeons how they were instead of strictly 5mans (ie: UBRS being a raid and LBRS being a 5man)
- Will they stick to the 25man limit for raid or go back to the original 40man?
- What kind of timeline for end game progression? (ie: Once Nax40 is out, will that be the end or will they possibly have some kind of server reset every other year or so?)
- Will they change gear to resemble Vanilla stats including the needs for resistance gear?

- Will they have more than 1 types of these servers? (ie: PvE/PvP/RP)
- Will they resemble Vanilla and if you create a character of 1 faction on a PvP server, you then cannot make 1 of the other.
- What about server transfers? (Back then PvE couldn't go to PvP for obvious reasons)
- Will dishonorable kills be reintroduced?

Many upon many more questions that need answering that of course they can't answer yet.

[JDoubleU00]

Originally Posted by Tim Addons were allowed in Vanilla so Classic will be no different. However, things will be updated and some of the restrictions that were put on functions back then and up until now will more than likely continue to be enforced. What does that mean? It means although stuff like addon automation was allowed for majority of Vanilla it will not exist in this version of Classic. Private server stuff like Seerah said will not be allowed on here ever as it's against Blizzards ToS. People are going to have to accept that fact and accept the fact that addons that currently work for private servers are not going to work for this new Classic version. Blizzard would make no sense to basically revert back to an older styled code base. This version of Classic WoW of course is not going to resemble that actual Vanilla WoW experience but they're going to try their best with all the new tech to do so. Of course purists are still probably going to dab in the private server communities but, who knows, maybe they'll be satisfied with Blizzard's new version. This new Classic WoW brings up lots of questions in regards to Vanilla. - Will they revert the world and character models back to Vanilla style? - Same question as above but in regards to spell animations - Are they going to revert back to the old talent system and include it's limitations? (ie: 1 spec, 50g max respec cost) - If they go back to the old talent system will they also reintroduce spells and their ranking system? (ie: healers having like 5 different ranks of 1 heal due to efficiency, etc) - Will they go back to having a few dungeons how they were instead of strictly 5mans (ie: UBRS being a raid and LBRS being a 5man) - Will they stick to the 25man limit for raid or go back to the original 40man? - What kind of timeline for end game progression? (ie: Once Nax40 is out, will that be the end or will they possibly have some kind of server reset every other year or so?) - Will they change gear to resemble Vanilla stats including the needs for resistance gear? - Will they have more than 1 types of these servers? (ie: PvE/PvP/RP) - Will they resemble Vanilla and if you create a character of 1 faction on a PvP server, you then cannot make 1 of the other. - What about server transfers? (Back then PvE couldn't go to PvP for obvious reasons) - Will dishonorable kills be reintroduced? Many upon many more questions that need answering that of course they can't answer yet.

I hope they do the opening of the gates at AQ. I started too late to experience that.

[mtp1032]

Originally Posted by Tim Addons were allowed in Vanilla so Classic will be no different. However, things will be updated and some of the restrictions that were put on functions back then and up until now will more than likely continue to be enforced. What does that mean? It means although stuff like addon automation was allowed for majority of Vanilla it will not exist in this version of Classic. Private server stuff like Seerah said will not be allowed on here ever as it's against Blizzards ToS. People are going to have to accept that fact and accept the fact that addons that currently work for private servers are not going to work for this new Classic version. Blizzard would make no sense to basically revert back to an older styled code base. This version of Classic WoW of course is not going to resemble that actual Vanilla WoW experience but they're going to try their best with all the new tech to do so. Of course purists are still probably going to dab in the private server communities but, who knows, maybe they'll be satisfied with Blizzard's new version. This new Classic WoW brings up lots of questions in regards to Vanilla. - Will they revert the world and character models back to Vanilla style? - Same question as above but in regards to spell animations - Are they going to revert back to the old talent system and include it's limitations? (ie: 1 spec, 50g max respec cost) - If they go back to the old talent system will they also reintroduce spells and their ranking system? (ie: healers having like 5 different ranks of 1 heal due to efficiency, etc) - Will they go back to having a few dungeons how they were instead of strictly 5mans (ie: UBRS being a raid and LBRS being a 5man) - Will they stick to the 25man limit for raid or go back to the original 40man? - What kind of timeline for end game progression? (ie: Once Nax40 is out, will that be the end or will they possibly have some kind of server reset every other year or so?) - Will they change gear to resemble Vanilla stats including the needs for resistance gear? - Will they have more than 1 types of these servers? (ie: PvE/PvP/RP) - Will they resemble Vanilla and if you create a character of 1 faction on a PvP server, you then cannot make 1 of the other. - What about server transfers? (Back then PvE couldn't go to PvP for obvious reasons) - Will dishonorable kills be reintroduced? Many upon many more questions that need answering that of course they can't answer yet.

Excellent considerations. I wonder if you would allow me to quote you on the Blizz Classic forums? I won't unless you grant permission, but these are good.

Cheers,

[Tim]

Sure you can quote me, no big deal there.

Originally Posted by JDoubleU00 I hope they do the opening of the gates at AQ. I started too late to experience that.

This will definitely more than likely be implemented as it was a staple part of the game. The only difference is the tech is more capable of handling more people in specific areas now than back then. Yes, an obscene amount of people in the zone even with current tech you can still run into lag issues.

[Dolby]

I have a feeling they will be using the current addon API, just reskin the UI to look like classic. If they allow AddOns (I think theres a good chance they will) and however they choose to implement classic we will do our best to support those addons and their development here too. Depending on the direction they go we may just need to offer a compatibility flag or if they go true classic we may end up having a 2nd database for classic addons?